“You don't want to see it go that long,” the 20-year-old goalie said, “but I just tried to battle and Platz did a great job and we grinded out a win.”

This isn't the fifth-year netminder's first marathon shootout, but it was his longest. Last November with Oshawa, Bailie went save-for-save with Belleville's Malcolm Subban before finally surrendering a goal on the Bulls' sixth attempt.
“It was my buddy Jason Shaw, who I grew up with in Belleville,” Bailie recalled. “He's the brother of (Chicago Blackhawk) Andrew Shaw and he's a defensive defenceman so I was surprised to see him come out over the boards to shoot.

“But he knew my spot.”

The Otters didn't and Bailie's not about to tell anyone. He stoned old Oshawa teammate JP Labardo all night, then stopped him, too, in the shootout.

“I owed him some revenge because he scored on me (opening night on Sept. 21 in London),” Bailie said. “I couldn't let it happen again.

“I think this was a big win for us. Erie's not the same (10-win) team they were last year. They're much improved and it was a tough game.”

The Knights took a two-goal lead in the second period on Bo Horvat's first of the season, but they couldn't hold it.

“We kept fighting and that's what you want to see,” Bailie said. “It's good that we didn't totally collapse after allowing the two goals and letting them tie it.”

Bailie has played all six of London's games so far this season. This was his best performance and came the first time he was asked to perform on back-to-back nights.

“I'm not going to complain if I play five games in five nights,” he said. “I want to play as many games as I can.”

Last week, he stopped Guelph's Jason Dickinson on a penalty shot late in a loss to the Storm. This time, he basically stopped nine and got the Knights the extra point.

“He's a cornerstone,” London assistant coach Dylan Hunter said. “That's what you want to see.”

He got the chance because of some late controversy.

Erie forward Stephen Harper, who tied it for the Otters, thought he had the winning goal with four minutes left, but his long shot was disallowed when it was ruled he was offside and didn't have possession of the puck when his skates went over the blue line before the puck.

“I didn't think it was offside,” he said. “I felt like I had possession. I'll watch it here on video in a bit. It sucks because you dream of scoring a goal like that to win the game.”

Both teams had goals waved off in the third period. Ryan Rupert's potential first goal this season was whistled for a high stick.

London had its chances.

They were granted a 90-second power-play on a Spencer Abraham cross-check to close out the overtime, but couldn't score. London captain Scott Harrington wired a wrister off the crossbar in the extra session.

Platzer, though, helped make Bailie a winner.

“Later in the year, 8-2 wins are going to be few and far between,” he said. “This was important for us.”

And nice for Bailie.

Notes: Goalie Michael Houser remains on the Knights' list of protected players. He injured his knee on Friday during a morning skate with San Antonio and could be out at least a month . . . London rookie defenceman Miles Liberati, a Pittsburgh native, made his OHL debut in the centre closest to his hometown. The Knights dressed seven d-men and 11 forwards . . . London defensive coach Jeff Paul was an original Erie Otter. He played two years for the club after it relocated from Niagara Falls . . . The nearby Penguins sent a large contingent of front office personnel, including player development coach Bill Guerin, to the game. Knights defencemen Olli Maatta and Scott Harrington are Pittsburgh prospects . . . Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was also in attendance. Dansk and Knights forward Josh Anderson are property of the Ohio team . . . Former Knight Dane Fox is still wearing a cast on his broken foot and using crutches to move around. He's about a month away from returning to the ice.

Notes:

- Goalie Michael Houser remains on the Knights' list of protected players. He injured his knee on Friday during a morning skate with San Antonio and could be out at least a month.

- London rookie defenceman Miles Liberati, a Pittsburgh native, made his OHL debut in the centre closest to his hometown. The Knights dressed seven d-men and 11 forwards.

- London defensive coach Jeff Paul was an original Erie Otter. He played two years for the club after it relocated from Niagara Falls . . . The nearby Penguins sent a large contingent of front office personnel, including player development coach Bill Guerin, to the game. Knights defencemen Olli Maatta and Scott Harrington are Pittsburgh prospects.